Carter, Adam J., Hollin, Clive R., Stefanska, Ewa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5685-0763, Higgs, Tamsin and Bloomfield, Sinead (2017) The use of crime scene and demographic information in the identification of non-serial sexual homicide. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 61 (14). pp. 1554-1569. ISSN 0306-624X (Print), 1552-6933 (Online) (doi:10.1177/0306624X16630313)

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Abstract

As with other sexual offenders, sexual homicide perpetrators can be reluctant to talk about their criminal behavior. Therefore, in homicide cases, forensic practitioners frequently rely on crime scene information to identify any sexual behavior associated with the offense. This study aims to identify objective and readily available crime scene information, alongside information about victims and perpetrators, based on 65 cases from England and Wales in the United Kingdom of men convicted of homicide who had committed a non-serial sexual homicide and 64 cases of men convicted of homicide where the available evidence indicated that it was a non-serial non-sexual homicide. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. There were few differences in terms of demographic information and criminal histories between the two perpetrator groups. There were crime scene indicators supporting the use of Ressler et al.’s definition of sexual homicide. The victims of sexual homicide were generally found in their home with the lower half of the body exposed and with evidence of vaginal sex. Furthermore, extreme injuries and strangulation were more frequent in sexual homicides. Use of weapon was associated with a non-sexual homicide. Victims of sexual homicide were as likely to know the perpetrator as not. Potential benefits of the characteristics reported to investigators and forensic practitioners tasked with identifying sexual homicides are discussed and areas for further research suggested.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sexual homicide, crime scene, victim and perpetrator characteristics
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2021 09:50
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/33544

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